Letters to the Editor for Friday, March 1

Median price

In recent articles, you reported that maintaining median landscaping costs taxpayers almost $70,000 per mile and that these costs are rising. These costs are out of control given that our starting salary for teachers is approximately half of that. Where is the outrage?

Our teachers deserve better.

Douglas Millar, Naples

An experienced hand

The voters of Naples have an experienced man to vote for in the special election on April 2. Former City Manager, Bill Moss is running. No training for him because as city manager for 11 years, he has been running the city. He is the man that brought the city back from the recession by giving the City Council options of what to do to move forward and keep a low tax millage. Bill is the one who we heard and saw during and after Hurricane Irma.

Moss has the knowledge to deal with stormwater management. He knows about the city’s fiscal responsibilities and has overseen many projects such as the Naples Pier, City Dock and the downtown fire station.

Moss is the person we need on City Council and he can start at the top of his game on day one.

Susan H. Earl, Naples

How Much You Know

My dad once told me no one cares how much you know until they know how much you care. Successful politicians have mastered the counterfeit of empathy by kissing babies and patiently listening to hard luck stories from potential voters, but they cannot fake the real thing. Some of the U.S. population are convinced they know more about pretty much everything than those who do not agree with them. We had a middle to balance this once but identity politics by design has all but devoured the last middle.

In society, without a political middle, we’d be at each other’s throats with tribal viciousness. Are we there now? Political and religious tyrants are never satiated with submission. Totalitarian intent always finds criterion to divide and oppress by appearance and speech.

With healthy negotiations, pursuit of a sustainable middle ground can have a predictable result. Without this we have violence, force and war. When extremes rule, bad things happen as history has shown us.

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Florida Voices tells the stories of everyday Floridians, examining what issues matter most to them in the Sunshine State.

In this Republic if you do not acknowledge the pursuit of happiness and the inherent God-given, Constitutional rights to live free, then the firewalls of freedom are breached and we we’ll soon find ourselves in bondage as the riptides of fascism and division sweep across our country.

Walter R. Jaskiewicz, Marco Island

Refund 101

Although Collier County taxpayers receive "some of the biggest average tax refunds in Florida" (per the NDN), it is misleading. A far more accurate description is to express average refund as a percentage of average income taxes actually paid. Refunds are a plus or minus final adjustment in calculating income taxes. Many taxpayers overpay taxes during the year as a "savings account" to have one large refund.

Robert L. Moore, CPA (retired) Naples

Defend democracy

In speaking about the scope of government President Ronald Reagan once said, “As government expands, liberty contracts.”

Take the proposal to add an additional eight months to the terms of current Bonita Springs council members (Feb. 20 Naples Daily News). Moving the date of the municipal elections from March to the November General Election in 2020 would be a substantial expansion of government. This would also represent a diminishing of our liberties as the action is planned without the consent of the voters.

There is no compelling reason for the change right now, which has already advanced twice by a split vote of the council. With a final vote set for March 6, there is still time for them to reconsider. Let’s allow the Charter Revision Commission which is already at work, to complete their review and see if this is included in their report.

We are frequently reminded of the sacrifices of our veterans and men and women in combat and their families. Let’s heed Ronald Reagan’s caution and respect their service by preserving the democratic institutions they defend on our behalf.

Susan Hager, Bonita Springs

Long-term problem

Four of the seven members of the Bonita Springs City Council have decided that they want to extend their terms by eight months and $10,000 - from March of 2020 to November of 2020. They don’t want to send it to the voters, so that we can decide. They claim that a November election will increase voter participation. But last week, two of the members told us the real reason. They are afraid they can’t get out their voters for just local issues.

There are many reasons not to extend their terms in office without voter approval.

• Turnout in March has been strong in the past.
• In the summer and early fall, when candidate forums, town halls and debates could take place, many voters are still up north. The unknown and underfunded candidate is at a huge disadvantage if voters can’t attend these events. A move to November will favor incumbents and candidates that have a lot of money to spend.
• And the months from January to March are the time when seasonal residents will be in town. Even if they can’t vote, they have a right to know about the candidates and to influence their friends and neighbors.

And even if the overall turnout is greater in November, many voters will never make it to the end of long, complicated ballot to vote for a city election so participation will not be higher.

This change will happen at City Hall, Wednesday, March 6 at 5:30pm unless you show up, or email peter.simmons@cityofbonitasprings.org, to voice your opinion on this issue.

Dwight Esmon, Bonita Springs

Answering the call

I'm writing to express my deep appreciation for the actions of three members of the Lee County Sheriff's Office. A few days ago, my car alternator died and left me stranded in traffic at a busy Lee County intersection. I immediately called 911 and was told that an officer would be there shortly. Within seven minutes, Deputy C. Pierson appeared to help. While another deputy directed traffic around us, Deputy Pierson pushed my vehicle to the median, out of harm’s way. When I told the officer I needed a tow, he was able to contact one and he patiently waited with me the entire time until he was assured it was on the way. He left only after two volunteer members of the Lee County Sheriff Office Voice Unit arrived to continue waiting me with until the tow truck arrived, some 40 minutes later. The two volunteers were D. Blanchard and M. Taplitz. In addition to offering me a bottle of water, they were kind enough to let me sit in the back of their vehicle, out of the hot sun. They did not leave the scene until my vehicle was hooked up, and I was safely in the passenger seat of the tow truck.

All three of these outstanding representatives of the Lee County Sheriff's Office were extremely kind, friendly, helpful, courteous, understanding, knowledgeable, patient, courteous, and highly professional throughout my ordeal. I cannot thank them enough for their help.

If you ever find yourself in a similar situation, I would suggest doing what I did. Call 911, then wait inside your vehicle with your flashers on until a patrol car arrives.

Ken Kaminsky, Bonita Springs

Asked and answered

Just wondering if anyone would vote for a person to be elected President of the United States if this person was a proven womanizer, a bully, a bloviating blowhard, a pathological liar, a narcissist, a fraud, a con-man, an unethical businessman, a draft-dodger, a racist and possibly a fascist. And would we elect the same someone who has the vocabulary of a 12-year-old and the temperament of a 3-year old?

Evidently, some people would vote for a person like that if he promised a conservative judicial system that would suppress minorities from voting, prevent women from making their own reproductive choices, get Congress to pass a tax cut that would make the rich richer and prevent immigrants from moving to this country, whether seeking asylum or just seeking a better life, a president with an administration that chooses to deregulate our environmental protections to further destroy our climate but make the fossil fuel industry thrive, a person who would sooner believe a foreign adversary than believe his own intelligence experts. Oh, wait. My question has been answered. Never mind.

One more question, though. How much more embarrassment does this country have to endure, how much lower does this country have to go before our gag reflex kicks in?

Gerry Corriveau, Naples

Bad choice

The blame for the disaster Trump has been for the U.S. and for the world should not be placed on him. He was just as mentally unbalanced on the day he announced his candidacy as he is today. Remember, that was the day he promised to build a border wall and that Mexico would pay for it. The blame lies solely at the hands of those who pulled the lever to vote for him. And, further, the blame continues to rest with those who still will not face the fact that they made a terrible decision.

Joan Millon, Naples

Statuesque

This year’s Oscar ceremony was a step from tradition of theatrical festivity into a dull low-budget event.

Previous Oscar award ceremonies brought us lots of unscripted fresh elements. Take, for instance, Best Actor acceptance speech by Leonardo DiCaprio in 2016. The audience gave him a standing ovation. Some had tears in their eyes. If the money in the organizers’ pockets got scarce they still could try to amuse public within new limits of the digital era. It looks like the trophy lost its soul. The award ceremony has become metallic too.